Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Pop”

~ John W. Howell

A slight pop sound while getting out of bed is a reminder of the aging process. Who knows where that sound comes from, but it showed up one day, and it has become part of the morning routine. “COFFEE,” screams the brain, and the rush is on to supply the caffeine to put out the blinking red warning light and the Klaxon horn. Finally, the first sip provides a covenant with the screaming senses, and the warnings cease.

The new sound is the Westminster chimes of the doorbell. Another idiot who cannot read. A quick toss of two squeak toys and a slam of the door on the soundproof room put an end to the eardrum-bleeding cacophony of two dogs sounding like Igor’s baying hounds. Next, a check of the security monitor shows the images of what looks like Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog. The usual conversation about a delivery and signature is needed, so with a sigh, the security shutdown process is begun.

The SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. Also, the flight of A-10 Warthogs must be diverted. Another call to the commander puts that worry to rest. The SEAL team needs to be called off, and a call to the leader makes that possible. A call to the tow truck driver stops the deployment of an M1A1 Abrams Tank. The control panel simplifies the shutdown process of the security system. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the turret mortars disengaged, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gatling guns on safety, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, and the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away.  The Proton torpedoes switched off. The gamma ray beams covered. The high-powered maser guns switched to standby, and the nanorobots were chained in the basement. The Klingons are called back, and the Targ is caged. Robbie’s Bot is sent to the basement.  The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.

Ralph hands me a clipboard and an envelope. I sign where indicated and return the clipboard. Sam steps between me and Ralph with his paw out in the universal way of asking for a tip. Thinking of what Serena Williams once said, “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does,” is my tip as I slam the door.

The envelope contains a message from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “pop.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/11/14/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-15-2025/

Pop by John W. Howell © 2025

“Well, that was a treat.”

“What?”

“Ralph and Sam.”

“I always thought they were pretty funny.”

“Totally dedicated to their job from 9:00 to 5:00.”

“I always like the time clock scene when they wished each other a good evening.”

“I wonder if they ever had a beer together.”

“Pop the top and enjoy a cool one while discussing the work day would be good. I don’t know either.”

“Then there is you and me.”

“Yup. Uber?”

“Over there.”

Photo by Dan Antion

“Wow. A 1953 DeSoto Powermaster.”

“Yeah, you don’t see many of those around.”

“So what’s the catch?”

“What do you mean by ‘catch ‘?”

“Can we just get in and go to the pub?”

“Oh, I see. Well, there is one stop.”

“Uh huh. Where?”

“A Stop at Willoughby. Where a man can live life at full measure.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Well, yes. It is the 22nd episode of the Twilight Zone, and I threw it in for Dan.”

“Can others see it?”

“Sure, here’s the link.”

https://www.facebook.com/100067494914562/videos/a-stop-at-willoughby/602715635095453/

“Great. Let’s go.”

 

55 thoughts on “Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Pop””

  13. Hahaha! Well done, John. “two dogs sounding like Igor’s baying hounds.” is a brilliant line.

    I’m sure Dan appreciated the Twilight Zone bit — I hope we don’t lose him there, because I expect he managed to hide in the backseat of that absolutely awesome car.

    Big hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. OMG! THE Willoughby episode is one of my faves!

    Push Push Push Push Push Push!

    Popping back to “Pop” –

    When I was a kid, even into my teens, there was always a Jack-in-the-Box in the house.

    You know the song

    “Half a pound of tuppenny rice

    Half a pound of treacle

    Mix them up and make them nice

    POP goes the weasel”

    So, I would set the JitB into the note before”POP”, and put it on the coffee table or side table, when company came over. The second they touched, even breathed on the jitB, the clown would pop out. Jarred them every time!

    The adults fell for it over and over and over.

    😹X 🤡X 🤣X 😂X

    Liked by 1 person

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